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The Diamond in the Bronx: Yankee Stadium and the Politics of New York | 
 enlarge | Author: Neil J. Sullivan
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy New: $9.08
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Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 755520
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.6
ISBN: 0195331834
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.357068747275
EAN: 9780195331837
ASIN: 0195331834
Publication Date: January 31, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Softcover. Brand new, never used. Ships the next business day, with tracking and delivery confirmation sent to your email.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Timed to be released at the start of 2008 spring training, Neil Sullivan's The Diamond in the Bronx chronicles the entire history of a stadium that has been home to the greatest dynasty in sports history, a stadium that will see its final Yankees game in 2008.
As Yankee Stadium is about to become a memory, an indelible part of the cultural history of baseball and of New York City, Neil Sullivan's The Diamond in the Bronx offers a fascinating account of its history and its position at the intersection of sports, business, government, and society, Sullivan tells how Yankee Stadium came to be built in 1923, at a time when the Bronx was a burgeoning borough that held middle class housing for immigrants as well as hunting lodges for wealthy Manhattanites, an era when small children could ride the subway, alone, to the ball game, and when many of the ballplayers themselves lived on the Grand Concourse. As the city and the Bronx changed, Yankeedom changed too, and the stadium is now surrounded by of parking lots, symbolic of the team's suburban fan base and the decline of the South Bronx. In recent years the team has threatened to leave New York City, prompting extravagant proposals for keeping it there, including a billion dollar new stadium in Manhattan to be financed with public money. The resulting stadium controversy tells us much about the public's changing views of government and the changing nature of professional sports.
For Yankee fans, baseball aficionados, and anyone interested in the increasingly vexed relationship between sports, business, and politics, The Diamond in the Bronx offers a wealth of detail, insight, and historical perspective.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Jazmin's Tricky Review March 25, 2007
The Diamond in the Bronx is a verryy ticky book. It leads you to believe that it's all about the Yankee's and the stadium; the history behind it. When really it's ALLL about politics. The first couple chapters are interesting because they have history on how Dodger Walter O'Malley had his desire to build the Yankee stadium. The book then goes into detail on how the stadium affects the politics of New York. Making it complicated for race and wealth to be apart of the stadium, since the stadium was located in the Bronx; one of the boroughs that have more ethnic people rather than caucasians. It was also a question that if the stadium was taking money from "more important things" like transportation, and city neecessities. If you're more of a baseball, stadium fan, this book in not for you, however, if you are a politics fan, GET THIS BOOK!!!!
 The Diamond in the Bronx: Yankee Stadium and the Politics of New York October 14, 2005
Neil J. Sullivan does a good job explaining some of the politics and corrutption surrounding the building and keeping of Yankee Stadium in N.Y. Being a native New Yorker I can relate to some of these events. Being a scholar as well, their are some things that I disagree with and some things tend to be repeat themselves in his book. He does go off subject some and then tries to tie it all together. I thought the book was a very good read!
Steve Minn
Graduate Student
Sul Ross State University
Alpine, Texas
Yankee Stadium AND the Politics of New York March 26, 2004
This book was very interesting. I loved the way it recounted every detail in history about the stadium. It took you "behind the scenes" of New York's politicians and the stadium. It kept me interested. The whole time i felt like i was in New York in the 1920s, it gave me a whole new respect for baseball.
To Much Politics December 19, 2002
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book started off good, with the opening of the stadium and the first home run hit by Babe Ruth to christen the stadium. But after the first two chapters the book becomes to involved with the politics and the businessmen behind the stadium and its players. This book did not keep me entertained while I read it, and I found myself many times struggling to turn to the next page.
The Diamond In The Bronx-Yankee Stadium and Politics of NY February 3, 2002
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you are a baseball fan,Yankee fan or ballpark buff expecting to find a history of the Stadium and/or the events on the field,you'll find this book boooorrriiing.If,however,you are into politics with a little baseball history thrown in,then this book is for you.The Introduction sounds promising-Yankee owner Ruppert using his own money to build a new stadium as opposed to modern day owners looking for a handout.Weighing the importance of financing a stadium against the other needs of a city.And,does stadium subsidy take money from things like public safety,transportation,health care,etc?
The book itself starts on Opening Day 1923,describing the festivities and on field happenings.It quickly delves into politics of the era and ties between team owners and City Hall.There is a brief background on Babe Ruth and his influence on the game.There is a history of the early Highlanders,Hilltop Park and the Yanks stay in the Polo Grounds.Some mention of the Stadiums construction.Then,we're bought back to the late 19th century and a look at immigrants,including details of a dog fight.After a history of early 20th century Bronx,I started skimming through the pages.The mysterious Tammany Hall is of no interest to most baseball fans.Neither are Mayor Walkers escapades,Prohibition,the Depression,President Roosevelt or Mayor LaGuardia.There is a brief recap of each season.The next chapters cover the Stadiums sale in the 50's and the race issues in the Bronx {and Brooklyn}which factor into matters even today.
Thing get interesting {to me} in the 70's with discussions between the Yanks Mike Burke and NYC Mayor Lindsay regarding Stadium renovations.It seems that the Yankee Village concept actually began back then.The threat of the team moving to New Jersey was real {the NFL Giants moved} although the author does not feel the threat was as real regarding the Yankees.The last few chapters discuss the failed Steinbrenner-Mayor Koch lease extension negotiations,and the Mayor Giulianiani love-fest with the Yanks.A good amount of local columnists reactions are included,though there are too many from the high brow NY Times for my tastes.The photo section includes fourteen in all,seven of which I found interesting.
In fairness to Mr Sullivan,I enjoyed his earlier book,The Dodgers Move West,which detailed the political manuevering regarding the Brooklyn Dodgers and their attempts to get a new stadium built.Perhaps that book was better written because Mr Sullivan is a Dodger fan and the subject matter was more interesting to him.Except for brief passages,his Yankee Stadium book will leave most fans wishing they hadn't spent the money.I borrowed mine from the library,and noticed that it had been taken out about two dozen times,almost always for a period of two days.I feel that this is because most readers realized it is a political book disguised as a baseball book,and they quickly became turned off.
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